Control system.



C. C. WHITTAKER.

CONTROL SYSTEM. APPLICATION HLED AUG-10 l915.

l 5%fi%$5% Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aldhlii CHARLES C. WHITTAKER, (31'! WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CGIVIPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

incense.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 30 191%,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. l/Vnrr- TAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Systems,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control systems for pantograph trolleys and it has special reference to the control of trolleys of the type which are maintained in engagement with the trolley conductor by means of springs and which are actuated into their lowered positions pneumatically. v

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a system of the above-indicated character which. shall be simple and inexpensive in arrangement; which shall operate with eifectiveness and reliability, and which shall be provided with adequate means for insuring that the trolley be actuated to its lowered position when this movement is once initiated.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a trolley of the class referred to which shall be controlled electrically from the main source of energy (the trolley conductor) and which shall be provided with an electrically-controlled valve for governing the admission of operating fluid to the pneumatic lowering device, said valve being, by reason of its peculiar arrangement of parts, adapted to hold itself open after being temporarily energized, thereby insuring the lowering of the trolley even though the control-circuit energy is out oli by reason of the disengagement of thetrolley and the trolley conductor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means for releasing the operating fluid from the lowering cylinder or pneumatic device when the trolley has reached its lowered position.

In aco-pending application Serial No. 44,751, filed of even date herewith by Karl A. Simmon and assigned to the Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Company, a control sys tem having the same general characteristics is disclosed, in which a pneumatic relay device is employed for controlling the operation of the governing valve, and this pneuafter its disengagement from the trolley conductor.

in my present invention, 1 provide a control valve of a different character which is both positive and reliable in operation and is definitely maintained in its open position after once being actuated thereto, inasmuch as the valve comprises two pistons of different areas which act in conjunction to maintain the valve in a predetermined position after having once been actuated by reason of the resultant pressure upon the pistons.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a control system and device embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the system shown comprises a trolley conductor 1, a trolley 2, a pneumatically-released locking device 3, a pneumatically lowered and spring-raised actuating device 4, a release valve 5, an electromagnetically-controllcd valve 6 for governing the admission of operating fluid to the pneumatic actuating device l, an electromagneticallycontrolled valve 7 for admitting operating fluid to the pneumatic-release device 8, a control resistor 8 and a plurality of manually-operated switches 9 and 10 that are respectively marked Lower and Raise The pantograph trolley 2 may be of any well known form and embodies a' currentcollecting device or contact shoe 13 which is normally adapted to be maintained in engagement with the trolley, conductor 1. The pantograph 2 may be conveniently mounted upon the roof of a railway car or electric locomotive, in the usual manner, and may be remotely controlled in a manner to be hereinafter set forth.

The actuating device 4 comprises an operating cylinder li, having a release opening 14: near one end thereof, a plurality of pistons 15 and 16 contained therein and re spectively attached to a plurality of piston rods 17 and 18 that are pivot-ally associated with the arms 2 and 2 of the pantograph 2. Surrounding each of the piston rods 17 and 18 and acting upon the respective pistons 15 and 16 are springs 19 and 20 that serve to elevate the trolley 2 and maintain it in engagement with the trolley conductor 1. The pistons are located in the central portion of the cylinder, and intermediate said pistons, an inlet pipe 14 communicates therewith.

The release device 3 comprises a cylinder 21 containing a movable piston 22 provided with a piston rod 23 that is connected to a pivoted latch 24 which serves to engage a detent 25 on the pantograph frame 2 for the purpose of locking sald frame in its lowered position. A spring 26 surrounds the piston 23 and serves to maintain the latch 24 in its operative locked position.

The release valve 5 merely constitutes an ordinary valve having a handle 27 which is normally maintained in its closed position by a spring 28 and is so located, with respect to the trolley 2, as to be engaged thereby in its lowered position and thereby actuated into its open position to permit the re lease of operating fluid from the cylinder 14, as Will be understood.

The electromagnetically-operated valve 6 has a main body portion 32 provided with a plurality of communicating chambers 33 and 34 of relatively difierent diameters and a movable valve member 35 comprising a plurality of pistons or heads 36 and 37 which are respectively disposed in the chambers 33 and 34. The chamber 33 has a communication to the atmosphere through a port 39 and is also in open communication with a pipe 14 which is connected to the operating cylinder 14, while the lower chamber 34 is provided with an inlet pipe 41. that conveys operatin fluid from a suitable, source (not shown and also with a ventopening 40 in its lower end. The valve member 35 is mechanically associated with a magnetizable core 43 that is provided with an energizing coil 44 by means of which the associated valve pistons 36 and 37 are actuated into their lower positions against the action of a spring 45. In the normal position of the valve member 35, the inlet end of the pipe 41 is covered and closed by the piston 37, as shown in the figure, while the port 39 is left open, thereby permitting any operating fluid in the cylinder 14 to escape.

7 When the operating coil 44 is energized, the valve 35 is moved into its lowered position, and the inlet end of the pipe 41 is uncovered, the exhaust port. 39 is closed, and a communication is established between the pipes 41 and 14 through the valve chambers 33 and 34. After the va' ve 6 has been operatedin the manner set forth to admit fluid to the operating cylinder 14, it is trolley 2. 4

positively maintained in its open position by the operating fluid acting upon the pistons 3(3 and 37, the area of and the resultant pressure on the piston 37 being greater than that of the piston 36, thereby maintaining the member 35 in its lowered position and insuring a supply of operating fluid to the cylinder 14 until the same is exhausted by an auxiliary device 5 which operates after the trolley 2 has been actuated to its lowered position as hereinafter set forth.

The valve 7, which is located in a fluidsupply pipe 46 for supplying fluid to the release device 3, is maintained closed by a spring 47 and is opened either manually or by a magnetizable core 49 which is energized by an operating coil 48.

The control resistor 8 receives energizing current from the trolley conductor 1 lo the A conductor 51 is connected to the resistor 8 at a point 50 to supply lowvoltagc energy to the operating coils 44 and 48 of the respective 'alves 6 and 7 through the switching devices 9 and 10.

Although I have shown and described my invention as applied to a single trolley of a single car, it is obviously applicable to a multiple-unit train, and, by means of the connections herein shown, a plurality of trolleys upon different train units may be concurrently operated,

Assuming the apparatus to occupy the positions shown, the trolley 2, or a. plurality of trolleys in the case 01f a multiple-unit train, may be lowered by closing the switch 9, marked Lower. This energizes and opens the valves 6 and thereby admits fluid to the cylinder 14 from the supply pipe 41. The pistons 15 and 16 are thus caused to actuate the trolleys 2 into their lowered positions.

As soon as the trolleys become disengaged from the trolley conductor 1, the energizing current for the control resistor S and the operating coils 44 is interrupted. However, the valves (5 are held open in the manner already described, and the trolleys are brought down, even though their controlling valves 6 are de'e'nergized before the trolleys reach their lowered positions.

hen the trolleys 2 reach their lowered. positions, they are brought into engagement with the handles 27 of the several release valves 5, and said valves are thus opened to permit the escape of operating fluid from the cylinders 14, whereby the pressure within the chambers 33 and 34 of the valves 6 is reduced and the valves are permitted to be returned to their normal closed positions. The relief openings 14 are also opened to eflect a similar function, although this "function may be accomplished singly by either of the means referred to.

Assuming the trolleys to be lowered, they lill) 1 $64,354 i; it

may be raised in the following manner The trolley on the head car of the train is first raised by manually opening the control valve 7 on the head car and thus unlocking the latch 24 and permitting the springs 15 and 1G to actuate the trolley to its upper position. This supplies energy to the control resistor 8 and, therefore, the remaining trolleys may be raised in the manner hereinbefore set forth by temporarily closing the switch 10 marked Raise to electro-magnetically open the valves 7 and the release of the locking devices 3 throughout the remainder of the train.

-Although I have shown and described my invention as embodying specific circuit con nections and structural features, it is evident that many modifications may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a pneumatically lowered trolley adapted tobe normally maintained in engagement with a trolley conductor, and a source of fluid under pressure, of an electromagnetically-controlled valve for governing the supply of fluid to the pneumatically-lowered trolley, said valve being adapted to be opened by an electromagnet and to be held by fluid from said sourc after said magnet is deenergized.

2. The combination with a spring-raised pneumatically-lowered trolley normally maintained in engagement with a trolley conductor, of a valve device between said source of fluid and said trolley for governing the supply of fluid thereto and comprising a casing having communicating chambers of different diameters, apiston disposed in each of said chambers, said casing having passageways through the walls thereof normally adapted to be opened and closed by the movements of said pistons, said pistons being rigidly connected together, of different areas and normally adapted to connect said chambers to the atmosphere, and electromag netic means associated with said movable valve member for actuating the same and causing the pistons to establish communication from the trolley to a fluid-supply source through the valve chambiers, said valve device adapted to subsequently maintain said communication.

3. The combination with a spring-raised pantograph trolley, and a pneumaticallyactuated device for lowering said trolley comprising a plurality of pistons mounted within a cylinder, said cylinder having an opening for releasing the pressure therein when said pistons reach a predetermined position in said cylinder, of an electromagnetically-operated valve for governing the admission of operating fluid to said pneumatically actuated lowering vdevice and adapted to effect the lowering thereof even after the trolley has been disengaged from the trolley conductor, and means associated with said pneumatically-actuated lowering device for releasing the operating fluid from said lowering device when said trolley reaches its lowered position.

4. The combination with a trolley normally maintained in engagement with a trolley conductor, and a fluid-actuated lowering device for said trolley comprising pistons and an operating cylinder, said cylinder having an opening therein near one end thereof for releasing the operating fluid therefrom under predetermined conditions, of a valve for governing the admission of operating fluid to said fluid-actuated device for effecting the lowering of said trolley, and electromagnetic means for actuating said valve for initiating the downward movement of said trolley.

5. The combination with a pantograph trolley and a fluid-actuated device adapted to lower said trolley, of a fluid valve adapted to control the operation of said device comprising a body member having communicating chambers of different diameters, the larger chamber having a supply opening and the smaller chamber an unrestricted exhaust opening and a delivery opening in the walls thereof, a slide valve member disposed in said communicating chambers and constituting pistons of different areas, means for maintaining said valve member in a position to cause the larger piston to cover the supply opening while the exhaust and delivery openings are uncovered and communicate through the valve chambers, and electromagnetic means for actuating said valve member to cause the small piston to cover the exhaust opening and the large piston to uncover the supply opening, whereby communication between the supply opening and the delivery opening is effected through the valve chambers.

6. The combination with a pantograph trolley adapted to engage a trolley conductor, of an operating cylinder having an outlet port near one end thereof, pistons mounted within said cylinder and operatively connected to said trolley for lowering the same, said pistons being adapted to uncover said port at substantially the end of their stroke, means for raising said trolley to an operative position, an electromagnetically-actuated valve adapted to admit fluid to said cylinder comprisin a casing having a large and a small cham er, a passageway communicating operating fluid to said large chamber, a passageway extending from said cylinder to said small chamber, a passageway extending to the atmosphere from said small cylinder, piston members slidaloly mounted Within said chambers and secured together, said piston members normally adapted to close the passageway into said large chamber and to establish connec- 5 tion from said cylinder to said atmosphere, an eleetro-magnet for temporarily actuating said valve for admitting fluid to said cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of July CHARLES C. WHITTAKER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

